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About

Chan Min Park is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work focuses on the design and autonomous navigation of in-pipe robots. His major contributions lie in developing novel mechanical systems that enable robots to navigate complex pipeline geometries with minimal actuation and control. Park’s most influential work, a 2014 paper on a robot mechanism capable of 3D differential driving inside pipelines (29 citations), introduced a multi-axial differential gear system that allows a single motor to drive three wheels through elbows without additional control, featuring an integrated brake to prevent wheel slip. He further advanced the field with a back-drivable joint mechanism (12 citations) using ball-screws and steel wire ropes, enhancing robot maneuverability and safety. Park also made significant strides in autonomous navigation, developing recognition systems using PSD sensors (14 citations) and monocular cameras (5 citations) to identify pipeline elements like elbows and T-branches. His 2-2D differential gear mechanism (10 citations) incorporated active adhesion and rescue features, showcasing his holistic approach to in-pipe robotics. With a cumulative citation count exceeding 70, Park’s work has established foundational principles for untethered, self-navigating pipeline inspection robots, directly impacting industrial maintenance and infrastructure monitoring.